Shipper lever for looms



Jane 3, 1950 c. D. BROWN SKIPPER LEVER FOR LOOMS 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed June 12, 1948 I INVENTOR. CARL D. BROWN m m .T A

Jan, 3, 1950 c. D. BROWN SHIPPER LEVER FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet ,2

Filed June 12, 1948 INVENTOR. CARL D. BROWN m,

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1950 SHIPPER LEVER FOR LOOMS Carl D. Brown, Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, at corporation of Maine Application June 12, 1948, Serial No. 32,590

8 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in looms, more specifically, to a novel shipper lever for a loom such as that designed to control the clutch engaging and releasing means and simultaneously releasing and applying the brake.

It is a general object of the invention to devise improved means applicable to a control mechanism such as the shipper lever and its attendant parts to render more convenient the independent releasing and applying of the loom brake from the right hand side of the loom.

A further object is that of devising means by which the shipper lever of the loom which is normally designed to control the clutch and brake functions simultaneously, may selectively be employed for the purpose of releasing and setting the brake without disturbing the clutch, that is, while the m'achine'is stopped and the clutch disengaged.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a shipper level with means by which it may be employed as above indicated for releasing the brake when the loom is stopped, but which will be further adapted to engage automatically with the connecting linkages which apply its movement to the clutch operating means so that with a minimum of effort, the loom may again be started without more than the movement of the shipper lever to an extreme position to effect positive engagement with the clutch linkage, and thereafter moving the lever in the normal way to engage the clutch and disengage the brake to start the loom.

It is a further object of the invention to increase the safety with which a loom which has been stopped may be turned by hand, that is, by the usual hand wheel without power, with the brake released and without likelihood of inad-' vertently starting the mechanism by engaging the clutch, either by the control levers at the front of the machine or that to be found at the back of some looms.

It is a further object of the invention to provide control means by which the setting of the center fork and similar parts may be facilitated, that is, when it is desired to permit the shipper lever and attendant mechanism to be moved to the running position without actually engaging the clutch, and also without stopping the driving motor or discontinuing some other power source.

Most looms are provided with a clutch or other means by which power is engaged or interconnected to the loom mechanism for driving it and the power is disengaged, and which is released at a predetermined point during the power engaging and starting functions for the mechanism. In most looms shipper levers are disposed at the front of the machine at the left and right hand sides and another lever at the back of the machine, any one of these being possible of use for engaging the clutch or other power-conveying means to start the loom. The shipper levers, all interconnected as they are for engaging the clutch to start the machine, are also interconnected to the brake which is normally at the opposite end of the machine from that at'which the power is applied. Separate means is provided for disengaging the brake independently of the application of the clutch by means positioned at the left hand side, or at the brakeside, of the loom only. Very frequently it is inconvenient for the loom operator to control the release of the brake from that side of the machine. Even though it is possible to do that, considerable time is consumed in moving from one end of the loom to the other merely for the purpose of controlling the brake as the loom is turned by the hand wheel when the operators attention and effort are primarily directed toward parts at the opposite end of the loom and while he may effect frequent starting and stopping thereof, between which starts and stops it is sometimes desired to disengage the brake and turn the machine by-hand. According to the invention, the right hand or shipper lever opposite the brake end of the machine and to which means has not heretofore been applied for separately controlling the brake is provided with a manually operable latch means functioning to reengage itself automatically. This latch means as applied to the right hand shipper lever is relatively simple, has no adverse or undesired effect upon the normal control of the machine through the various control means, and is to be utilized as hereinafter described for the purposes above mentioned.

More specifically, the invention comprises a manually disengageable latch means at the lower end of the shipper lever by which the link therefrom to the clutch-operating means may be operatively engaged and disengaged. When the latch is disengaged, the lever may be moved from one extreme position to the other without any effect upon the clutch or other power interconnecting means. However, the brake which is positively actuated through the shipper lever is readily and independently disengaged, or may be engaged by moving the lever back to its original also with a brake which is normally applied as position, that is, the position which it occupies 3 when the loom is stopped. The latch is adapted to be moved by gravity, by a spring, or in any other satisfactory manner so that it automatically engages and confines the portion of the clutch operating linkage to which the lower end of the shipper lever is normally attached.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing wherein one specific andl preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated.

In the figures:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation taken at the right hand end of the loom showing those parts necessary to establish the relationship thereto of the shipper lever to which the invention is applied, the clutch and its attendant operating linkage.

Fig. 2 is a, corresponding elevation taken at the left hand end of the loom and showing linkage at that position which is employed for engaging and disengaging the brake.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the right hand shipper lever, the link which extends. therefrom. to the clutch operating mechanism and the manually operable disengaging latch means applied thereto.

Fig. 4 is a corresponding, perspective view, but showing the parts in the. position which they occupy at a time when the brake is disengaged and the loom stopped.

Fig- 5 is a front elevation of the lower end of the shipper lever.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the loom comprises among other parts a right hand loomside ID, a driving clutch indicated by numeral H and of conventional design, said clutch being adapted to convey power from an electric. motor or from any other convenient source to the fabricv forming mechanismof the loom in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

The clutch H is engaged and disengaged by a fork l2 forming a part of a curved, double-armed lever l3 pivoted at H and connected at the end opposite: the fork 12 to a joint. l5 from which extend two links t6 and H. The link l6 extending forwardly of the loom is bent angularly as shown in Figs. 3 and 4; to engage within a notch l8 at the lower end t9 of the shipper lever generally designated by numeral The angularly bent end 2.l of the link It also carries the usual 4 shipper safety lock 22, the function of which is well understood by those skilled in this art. The

link IT attaches to the rear starting lever 20.

Now referring to Fig. 2, the left hand side of the loom has a corresponding'loomside 23, brake 24 and hand wheel 25 by which the machine may be turned manually upon release of the brake and, of course, disengagement of the power. A corresponding hand wheel (not shown) is also provided at the right hand side of the machine.

The right hand shipperlever 20 is fixedly connected at one end of a cross shaft 26 which extends along the front of the machine and at its left hand end has fixed in a corresponding manner a depending arm 21. At that end of the machine a second lever 28 pivoted at 29 connects by a link 30 to the arm 21 so that the shipper levers 20 and 28 function together to make possible the disengagement or engagement of the clutch at the right hand end of the machine by employment of either. depending upon that end of the machine at which the operator happens to be at the time. The brake 24 which may be of any conventional type is operated through means well known to those skilled in the art.

These brake-operating connections comprise a link 3| attached at 32 to a third projecting arm 33 movable with the lever 23 and to the lowermost or downwardly extending portion of a lever 34 pivoted at 35 at the side of the machine. A second link 36 connects to the brake actuating toggle or other applying means 3?, and extends through-the upwardly directed arm of the lever 34 and through a frog connecting bracket 38 behind which is a spring 39 through which the brake is actuated at bang-off by pulling the link 36; toward the front of the machine. Adjusting means 40 provides the usual manner of setting the brake operating means, the design of which has now becomemore or less standardized and which need not be described here in greater detail.

At the left hand end of the machine means which is not illustrated here is usually provided for releasing the brake 24 independently of any operation of the shipper levers 20 or 28. No corresponding means has customarily been provided at the right hand end of the machine. Obviously, some means is desirable, and in accordance with the invention hereinafter to be described in greater detail, a separate control for the brake is made available through the shipper lever 20. That control has the additional advantage of safety in making possible a complete disconnection of the clutch operating means.

Now referring more specifically to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the lower end IQ of the shipper lever has an aperture 4t slightly larger than the diameter of rod l6 through which that rod is passed and by which it is laterally guided. The notch I8 is out just deeply enough to form a. proper bearing for the angularly bent end 2| of the link is, that angularly bent end being further employed as above mentioned for retaining the usual safety lock 22 which is positioned by a collar 42 and a cotter pin 43. The collar 42. is fixed in properly adjusted relationship by a set screw or other means. The. collar 42 makes it impossible for the. lock to slide to a position which would prevent. re-engagement of the parts as might happen if the safety lock were retained only at its outer end in the usual manner.

A. manually operable latch 44 having an elond gated slot is held in slidably operative position by a shoulder screw 46 passing through the slot 45: and threaded into the end (9 of the shipper lever. Vertical alignment of the latch is assured by a lip 41 at the side of the lever end and against which the corresponding edge of the slidable latch bears. A pin 48 or other fingerengaging member is employed to lift the latch to the position shown in Fig. 4 whereupon a forward pull at the upper end of the shipper lever will,

through the mechanism herein described briefly, disengage the brake, it being understood, of course, that the machine would be stopped at that time. Link [6 merely slides in aperture 4| so that the clutch or other power-engaging means is not disturbed. If desired, the safety latch 22 may be swung into position against the front edge of the loomside thereby making it absolutely certain that the power must remain off until that latch has been intentionally withdrawn.

Stops 49 and 50, Fig. 1, are adjustable along the link. I6 and in the usual manner, these stops strike against the inner edge of the forward part of the loomside and against an abutment 51, de-

pending' upon the direction of movement, to limit the travel of the link as is necessary for'proper actuation of the clutch parts.

'The latch 44, when permitted to drop to its lowermost position, Fig. 3, engages within a slot or notch 52 by which the lower end is maintained in proper position and by which the latch is controlled to close the notch i8 within which the angular bent end 2! of the link l6 functions. The screw 46 and notch 5| take the forces conveyed through the arm I 9 to the rod I 6 as th lever 28 is used to start the machine.

Fig.- 3 shOWs the position of the latch when the machine is to be started in a normal manner, the interconnection the lower end of the shipper lever and the clutch link It being, to all intents and purposes, a relatively permanent one at this time. In operation the machine operator may start the loom by employing either the shipper lever 2Q, lever 28, or a lever 20' at the back of the machine. When the machine is stopped and it is desired to disengage the brake, the operator grips the pin 48 manually and lifts the latch 44 to the uppermost extent of its travel, or at least far enough to release the connection by which the link It is retained, whereupon movement of the shipper lever 2D to the position of Fig. 4 effects disengagement of the brake without any corresponding movement of those parts which affect the clutch. When it is desired to start the machine in a normal manner under power, the lever 28 is moved so that its lower end assumes a forward position, Fig. 3, whereupon the latch 44 falls to its original position due to the force of gravity, or, if desired, may be caused to assume that position under the influence of a spring. The parts may then be used in a normal way, the stopping and starting of the machine by the shipper lever not being affected at all by the disengageable connection which forms a part of the invention.

While the latch has been described as movable vertically upwardly and as being under the influence of gravity for its return, it may take other forms and may be spring actuated so that gravity is not depended upon, these modifications being obvious to those conversant with mechanisms of the type described.

The terms right and left have been used frequently and the loom parts illustrated have been of a type where specific mechanism has been confined to one side of the loom or the other. However, these terms and the positioning of the parts is a relative one, and reversal of the elements may be effected while still utilizing the principles of the invention.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims. I

I claim:

1. In a loom having a power transmitting means, a brake and means for engaging and disengaging said power transmitting means and simultaneously releasing and applying said brake to start and stop the loom, including a manually operated shipper lever, a link interconnecting said shipper lever and power transmitting means and means actuated by said shipper lever and interconnected to the brake, and a manually positiontween the link and shipper lever movable to release the lever from the link to permit movement of the lever to release the brake without corresponding engagement of the power transmitting means.

2. In a loom having a driving clutch, a brake and means for engaging and disengaging said clutch and simultaneously releasing and applying said brake including a manually operated said brake to start and stop the loom, which includes a manually operated shipper lever, a interconnecting said shipper lever and the clutch and means operable by the lever and extending to the brake for efiecting releasing and applying movements thereof, and a manually disengageable joint operatively connecting said link and lever thereby to permit the lever to be moved to release the brake without afiecting the clutch.

4. In a loom having a driving clutch, a brake and means for engaging and disengaging said clutch and simultaneously releasing and applying said brake to start and stop the loom, which includes a manually operated shipper lever, a, link interconnecting said shipper lever and the clutch and means operable by the lever and extending to the brake for effecting releasing and applyin movements thereof, and a manually disengageable joint operatively connecting said link and lever thereby to permit the lever to be moved to release the brake without effecting corresponding movement of the clutch, said manually disengageable joint being automatically operable upon return of the shipper lever to a position to engage the brake to re-establish the connection between the lever and link.

5. In a loom having a driving clutch, a brake and means for engaging and disengaging said clutch and simultaneously releasing and applying said brake including a manually operated shipper lever, a link interconnected to said shipper lever and to clutch operating means for engaging and disengaging the clutch, means operated by said shipper lever and interconnected to the brake for actuating it as the loom is started and stopped, and a connecting joint between said lever and link, said joint comprising a latch member movable to and from a position to complete bearing for a cooperating portion of the link, whereby upon movement of the latch member to one position the lever may be moved to disengage the brake without correspondingly affecting the clutch, said manually movable latch member being automatically engageable to re-establish the connection between the lever and the link when the lever is moved to a position to apply the brake.

6. In a loom having a driving clutch, a brake and means for starting and stopping the loom which comprises a manually operated shipper lever and a link extending from said lever to means to engage and disengage the clutch, and other means positively operable by said shipper lever and interconnected to the brake for releasand means for permitting release of the brake without correspondingly affecting the clutch which comprises a manually disengageable connecting joint between the lever and link, said jfoint comprising an indentation in said lever, an angularly disposed portion of said link received insaid indentation, and a latch member normally held: in position at one side of said indentation to complete the bearing for the angularly disposed portion of the link.

7. In a 100m having a driving clutch, a brake and means for engaging and disengaging said, clutch and simultaneously releasing and applying said brake including a manually operated shipper lever, a link interconnected to said shipper lever and to clutch operating means for engaging and disengaging the clutch, means; operated by said shipper lever and interconnected to the brake for actuating it as the loom is started and stopped, and a connecting joint between said lever and link, said joint comprising an indentation at the end of said lever within which an end of the link may be borne, a sliding latch overlying said indentation, means on which said latch may slide to release the end of the link in; the indentation, said latch further being free to move to'a position to cover the indentation and to confine: the cooperating endof the link when ever the latter is fully entered in the said indentation.

8. In a loom having a driving clutch, a brake means: for engaging and disengaging. said clutchv and simultaneously releasing, and apply ing said brake to start and stopthe loom, which includes a manually operated shipper lever, means including a link interconnecting saidshipper lever and; the clutch and other means operable by the shipper lever and extending to the brake for effecting releasing and applying movementsthereof, and manually engageable and disengageable means for establishing an operative connection-- between said link and lever, said means when released, permitting the lever to be movedto release the brake without affecting the clutch CARL D. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 753,807 Patten Mar. l, 190* 1,5635%v Wells Aug. 5, 1921 

